Look at a gas semi auto - Berretta 301 etc far less recoil than a OU. For a general purpose auto that can do clays foxes or burglars get one that is adjustable and can take 3.5" cartidges. I've got a Baikal MP153 and its superbly practical.
Simon

I've been told elsewhere that semi-auto's are ok for clays so long as you use a dummy cartridge with a little flag on to demonstrate that it not loaded. The are most definitely frowned upon for any game shoots.

The 20 actually can chuck up as much lead as a 12, I use 28gram loads in my over under browning 20. for clays I use a 30 inch trap 12 bore with 21 gram which has virtually no recoil in comparison as its heavy and absorbs.

A 20 is better gun to use if you are doing a walk up shoot, or basically going to carry it all day as mine for instance only weighs 5.5lbs against the trap 12s 9.2lbs. you notice the difference. Also a shorter barrel means its easier to get through heavy brush, across streams etc. A 20 is an "up country" gun.

I dropped a pidgeon today that must have been at 50 yds straight up with the 20. A 12 would have overbalanced me as I swung up and over probably.

I used to have a very nice single barrel 12 bore that was light enough to carry but heavy enough to deal with recoil. And being a crack shot one barrel was always good enough. No good for clays though.

I used to have a very nice single barrel 12 bore that was light enough to carry but heavy enough to deal with recoil. And being a crack shot one barrel was always good enough. No good for clays though.

I'll have you know last time I went shooting I hit two clays with one shot. Absolute fluke though and unlikely to ever happen again.

I borrowed someones over and under for a shoot but the stock was too long me and I was bum firing the second barrel on the recoil of the first. I didn't realise what was happening at first thinking the recoil was a bit harsh and wondering why the second shot didn't.

but have a few guns as I am a farmer and run a small shoot, so have a few rifles too for pest control.

Thats why I posted earlier about Brown Bears views on 10/22s not being very good. In fact, with a trigger change, its my complete gun of choice for rabbits, and foxes as shotguns are basically useless for serious pest control.

I just saw this thread and felt compelled to comment as my browning 20 is my favorite shotgun. I really need to weld on a .22 and am sorted for walk up pest control.

(a 20 is not a trap gun though as cartridges are 30% more although same performance.)

I used to have a very nice single barrel 12 bore that was light enough to carry but heavy enough to deal with recoil. And being a crack shot one barrel was always good enough. No good for clays though.

I'll have you know last time I went shooting I hit two clays with one shot. Absolute fluke though and unlikely to ever happen again.

Shot 2 rabbits with one shot from the .22 a couple of weeks ago. Aimed at one about 40 meters away, which I killed and my mate on the lamp said "good shot that must have been 80 meters or more". I hadn't even seen the one behind but both were stone dead. First one shot through the neck and the second through the chest.

but have a few guns as I am a farmer and run a small shoot, so have a few rifles too for pest control.

Thats why I posted earlier about Brown Bears views on 10/22s not being very good. In fact, with a trigger change, its my complete gun of choice for rabbits, and foxes as shotguns are basically useless for serious pest control.

I just saw this thread and felt compelled to comment as my browning 20 is my favorite shotgun. I really need to weld on a .22 and am sorted for walk up pest control.

(a 20 is not a trap gun though as cartridges are 30% more although same performance.)

I was teasing. Thank you for the advice.

Our neighbour (also a farmer) usually deals with fox control for us with a rifle, as anything going after our chickens is likely to be going after his as well.

Is there any point shooting rabbits with a shotgun? I mean, is there anything left worth eating?

I've shot hundreds of rabbits with a shotgun and they're OK to eat as long as you aren't right on top of them when you shoot them. There are some places where a .22 isn't suitable for shooting rabbits but where a shotgun is. A head shot bunny with a .22 is obviously less risky on the teeth though.

No problems as half way down the side of a small valley shooting down. Saying that there always the possibility of the unknown when using a rifle of any calibre, especially when using a lamp when the distance vision limited.

No problems as half way down the side of a small valley shooting down. Saying that there always the possibility of the unknown when using a rifle of any calibre, especially when using a lamp when the distance vision limited.